DaysofPal- In a stark illustration of Gaza’s ongoing humanitarian catastrophe, schools have been repurposed as shelters for displaced individuals.
With education disrupted by the nearly two-year-long Israeli war, children like Diana and Misk express their yearning for a return to normalcy.
“We’re living in the school instead of studying,” said Diana, highlighting the plight of thousands of children whose educational journeys have been interrupted.
Displaced from the Shujaiya neighborhood in Gaza City, Diana shares her experience of carrying clothes instead of books and longing for the day she can return to the classroom.
According to UNRWA, nearly 660,000 Palestinian children remain out of school, with classrooms now serving as crowded living quarters.
The agency warns of a “lost generation” as educational opportunities vanish, compounded by the psychological trauma affecting nearly one million children in Gaza.
Misk, who lost her father in the war, reflects on her lost childhood.
“Two years of our lives were wasted,” she laments, her voice filled with grief over the absence of learning and normalcy.
Children like nine-year-old Jana and Malak express a strong desire to return to school and resume their education.
“We want the war to end,” Malak says, emphasizing the importance of education and a return to normal life.
In the West Bank, UNRWA schools continue to play a crucial role, although challenges persist.
Roland Friedrich, director of UNRWA affairs in the West Bank, highlights the closure of schools in East Jerusalem by Israeli occupation, affecting 800 children.
Friedrich emphasizes the violation of Palestinian children’s right to education, a breach of Israeli obligations as a UN Member State. Despite these challenges, UNRWA remains committed to providing education through schools, training centers, and hybrid learning.
“This back-to-school season, we are proud of our students and teachers who continue to show resilience in the face of hardship,” Friedrich states, expressing hope for a future filled with learning and friendship.
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